Tuesday 9 February 2016

Martin Place, Lunar Lanterns, Ox

Lunar Lanterns have been installed around the city to celebrate the 20th anniversary of City of Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival. In the Chinese zodiac, every year is symbolised by an animal and this year is the Year of the Monkey. The eastern end of Martin Place features this giant lantern of the Ox, comprising of illuminated Mahjong tiles. It was created by Tianli Zu who was born in Beijing and now lives in Sydney. The colour red evokes passion and radiant energy, while jade green represents good fortune and prosperity. The Ox is known for its diligence, dependability, strength and determination.

19 comments:

  1. What a nice idea, this ox! Happy New Year!

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  2. The lanterns are cool, reminds me of Legos though. Happy Chinese New Year!

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  3. Cute. I wasn't sure if it was boxes or legos on the thumbnail.

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  4. Clever and fun indeed!! A great capture for the day, Jim!! Thanks for sharing the fun and your beautiful, blue, blue skies as always!!!

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  5. What a clever idea! It almost looks like legos for grownups!

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  6. This is very creative. I have always been obsessed with Mahjong. I can play the game for hours.

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  7. I think we should call him Roxy the Ox Jim.

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  8. It looks so great. Wow. Thank you for linking in with "Through My Lens".

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  9. Very interesting, Jim. My working life was spent in and around Vancouver, BC, where Chinese New Year is a large, happy festival as well.
    K

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  10. As an Asian, I must say this ox lantern is offensive, insensitive and ugly. The tiles are tiles of Mahjong, a game universally associated with gambling. To us it is like putting up a figure of kangaroo using poker cards or dominos to symbolize Australia (casinos and kangaroos are features of Australia to us Asians, as gambling is illegal in many Asian countries)... It is the designer thinking (s)he knows Chinese culture but actually not aware of the subtle differences..

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    Replies
    1. This sculpture was created by artist Tianli Zu, who was born in Beijing and now lives in Sydney.

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